Yeast anyone?? (Candida that is) - Candida Message Board

UT_mom · 06-11-2004, 02:07 AM

Hi, I also posted this on the lupus board but have got no responses yet and so thought I'd expand my search and hope somebody else goes through this too maybe. I have been very newly diagnosed with SLE which has been going on for possibly 3-4 years if not longer. I am 25 years old.

Since the birth of my second baby 18 months ago, I have been plagued plagued plagued by chronic yeast infections. Mostly vaginal but I have also had thrush on nipples several times, under my breasts, on my hands, under my wedding ring. For the first six months of my babies life I probably had at least 12 vaginal yeast infections. I also had boils during this time as well which have resolved themselves unexplained. When I used to get a yeast infection (before baby #2) I would take one 100 mg diflucan and it was resolve within 24 hours. Well my current and most recent infection has required nine 200 mg diflucan tablets (one tablet daily) and a 24 hr OTC Monistat suppository to clear (and I'm still not sure if it's clear). I have had tests to check for an undiagnosed STD or an infection that is not candida like trich etc... Everything was negative.

Has anyone had this happen or had yeast stubborn to treat like this. What do you do?? It's really messing with my life and it seems like they're getting more stubborn all the time. help if you can, thanks!

UT_mom · 08-03-2004, 12:36 AM

I just thought I'd pass on some info to anyone who may need it. I asked my gynecologist about this problem and he stated that Diflucan is specific to candida albicans (however you spell that) and that there are like a million other different strains of yeast. He told me that if one or two pills don't do it, nine certainly won't. So if you have this problem contact your doctor and tell them what you've tried and how many. My doc said there are many medications which can eradicate the other strains. Just thought if anyone needed this info, I'd pass along what I'd learned. Have a wonderful day!
Shawnee

Deda · 08-03-2004, 02:47 AM

caden/logenmom--

I was just like you and kept getting recurring vaginal yeast. I'd use Monistat 7 over and over. It would seem like they never went away. Then I got this very painful condition called vulvodynia. Pain down there SO bad I thought I'd die. Saw many gyn's, and kept telling me no yeast. I knew better...I KNEW I had some type of yeast. Finally I found a great GYN who was a yeast and vulvar disorders guru. I had a very bad resistent yeast called Glabrata yeast. It's very difficult to get rid of, and it took us 2 months of messing with it too do it. First I was on oral Nizoral tablets, 200 mg a day, for 5 weeks. It reduced it, I could tell as it felt less painful, but it was still there. (He said I had a lot of it) Finally he had me use Terazol 7, every 12 hours, for 10 days, and I upped my Nizoral to 200 mgs 2 x a day. (didn't tell my doc, as he didn't want me to take it any longer because it can ruin your liver, I told him afterwards, and we did liver tests. I was so desparate, I didn't care) During the day I used a tampon to keep it in. I took it upon myslef to go on an anti yeast diet for 10 days! It was hard but I did it, I was desparate! Finally after 10 days of this aggresive treatment, it went away. The burning subsided, but pain remained. Turned out I had hypothyroid/auto immune type, (Hashimoto's), and that's what set off all of those infections for 2 years! The doc said that I probably had that glabrata for a long while. He also said that I probably got the resisitent yeast from over using the Monistat, as it kills off all of the albicans yeast, and then the glabrata takes over. (the glabrata is there in minute amounts to start with) He said when he was doing his fellowship like 7 years ago, they would see one patient per month with it, and now they see it daily. They think it has become more common since yeast meds went over the counter for vag. yeast. There are a few women on the thyroid board who say they had recurring vag. yeast infections before they were dx'd with thyroid disease. Diabetic women also get them often.
Recently my thyroid levels went very hypo, and again having problems, also fungus on my toenail which I NEVER have had before!
Funny thing about that glabrata yeast is I never saw a discharge on my panties, only a few times a day when I urinated.
Hope you get it figured out and treated soon...
Deda

Deda · 08-03-2004, 03:21 PM

Shawnee--
I'm sorry, later when I reread your post I realized that you said you have SLE. I have read that we're vulnerable to yeast whenever we have any autoimmune disease. (or any type of infection, from what I understand.

It's funny that you mentioned the rash under your wedding ring, I've had the same thing the past few weeks, and I've had to quit wearing my ring. I have been putting antibiotic cream on it, but after I read your post, now I'm putting Lamisil on it, just to see if that helps. I wouldn't be surprised if it does. I also get seborrheic dermatitis on my hairline and scalp, which went completely away when I was on oral Nizoral. Dr. said the rash on my forehead had to be yeast if it cleared when I was on antifungals. But it returned, and now if I put Lamisil on it a couple times a day, it stays away. I also avoid yeasty, sugary foods...what a pain!
Hope things are much better for you soon...
Deda

UT_mom · 08-03-2004, 09:06 PM

Thanks for your reply Deda---
That is good info for me, I've managed to be cleared up for almost 2 months now -yay! But if I have antibiotics of any kind I start with the icky yeast monster all over again. Want to hear something icky regarding yeast infections on the skin, I get it in my belly button from time to time, it gets red and sore and has the little white dots, I use a vaginal cream and it goes away quickly. I guess that's just the perfect place to grow it when I'm having yeast problems. I decided that in the future, if I have to take more than one diflucan to clear up an infection it's going to be worthwhile to have a wet prep and culture done at my gyno's office just to see which strain of yeast is creating the problem to see if I can get relief sooner than 2-3 weeks. Talk about curse of the woman!!! Oh by the way, I've been hypothyroid since I was 17 and have been on levoxyl ever since (I'm 25 now). I've been tested for diabetes like three times in the past year but I'm okay that way, thank heavens--I had in in pregnancy and there are much funner things. Well thanks for your post, wishing you the very best!
Shawnee